Essentially a drop-top version of the recent GT Speed, the convertible has 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque coming from a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12 engine. The car routes this power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Bentley says the convertible will do 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds on its way to a 202 mph top speed. If that acceleration time seems a bit high for a car with such Herculean amounts of power, consider that the convertible weighs 5,500 pounds. That's a 385-pound gain over the GT Speed coupe, a result of adding the roof mechanism and bracing for rigidity. The car also sits 10 millimeters lower than a stock Continental GT and wears special 21-inch alloy wheels.

The addition of the GT Speed coupe and convertible gives Bentley customers a broader range of Continental GT models than the previous generation. The other versions are the original W-12 that packs 567 horsepower, and the more sport-oriented GT V-8 with 500 horsepower. No word yet on pricing for the GT Speed Convertible.

This Bentley will join numerous other vehicles making their world debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, including the 2014 Corvette, BMW 4-Series, Cadillac ELR, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Lincoln MKC, Chevy and GMC trucks, an Acura MDX concept car, a small Honda SUV and others. Stay tuned to Highway 1 for live coverage of the event from the ground in Detroit.

After three years on the market, the current generation of the Mercedes-Benz midsize E-Class sedan and wagon will be getting an upgrade, with plans to officially reveal the cars at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show in January.

Acura announced Wednesday that it's bringing a prototype of its next MDX sport utility vehicle to the Detroit Auto Show in January. But if history is any indication,it will almost certainly be near production-ready.

For America's rich and famous, the Lincoln Continental once was the last word in automotive luxury. From the 1940s through the Cold War, the elegant sedan was a staple at Hollywood premieres and presidential motorcades.